U.S. patent number 6,820,950 [Application Number 10/227,459] was granted by the patent office on 2004-11-23 for modular case for holding articles.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Ching-Ching Trading Co.. Invention is credited to Chun-Hsia Sun.
United States Patent |
6,820,950 |
Sun |
November 23, 2004 |
Modular case for holding articles
Abstract
A modular case is designed to hold articles and is formed by
fitting together various panels of the standardized size and
design. The panels are held together by retaining slots and
retaining projections. A plurality of shelves are slidably disposed
in the V-shaped grooves of the panels. One or more doors are
pivoted to the panel by a plurality of pivoting lugs, each having
an inclined guide face enabling the doors to swivel automatically.
Certain retaining projections and retaining slots are provided with
arcuate side walls to enhance the retaining effect. The rear panels
have two wavy longitudinal sides to minimize the swaying of two
rear panels which are joined together side by side.
Inventors: |
Sun; Chun-Hsia (Changhua Hsien,
TW) |
Assignee: |
Ching-Ching Trading Co.
(Changhua, TW)
|
Family
ID: |
33434660 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/227,459 |
Filed: |
August 26, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/108; 312/111;
312/263 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
47/042 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
47/00 (20060101); A47B 47/04 (20060101); A47B
087/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;312/108,111,257.1,263,265.5 ;220/4.16,4.21,4.28,4.31
;403/364,382,403 ;16/386,316,312,314 ;52/79.9,591.1,270,591.2 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
245978 |
|
Nov 1987 |
|
EP |
|
532818 |
|
Mar 1993 |
|
EP |
|
06225815 |
|
Aug 1994 |
|
JP |
|
Primary Examiner: Mai; Lanna
Assistant Examiner: Tran; Hanh V.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Harrison & Egbert
Claims
I claim:
1. A modular case for holding articles comprising: at least three
upright side panels of a geometric form and identical in
construction and in dimension, each of the upright side panels
having a plurality of retaining projections in a rear longitudinal
side wall thereof and a plurality of retaining slots in a
longitudinal top end wall and a longitudinal bottom end wall
thereof, each of the upright side panels having a plurality of
grooves arranged at intervals in an inner side thereof, each of the
upright side panels having a plurality of pivoting lugs arranged at
intervals in a front longitudinal side wall thereof; at least two
upright rear panels identical in geometric form to said upright
side panels and identical in construction to each other, the
upright rear panels having a plurality of retaining slots in two
longitudinal side margins at an inner side thereof corresponding in
location to the retaining projections of the rear longitudinal side
wall of the upright side panels, the upright rear panels further
having a plurality of retaining slots in a longitudinal top end
wall and a longitudinal bottom end wall thereof, each of the
upright rear panels is fitted to two of said upright side panels
such that the retaining projections of the rear longitudinal side
walls of the two upright side panels are retained respectively in
the retaining slots of the two longitudinal side margins of the
inner side of the upright rear panel; at least two top panels of a
geometric form and identical in construction to each other, the top
panels having a plurality of retaining projections in three side
walls thereof corresponding in location to the retaining slots of
the longitudinal top end wall of the upright side panels and the
retaining slots of the longitudinal top end wall of the upright
rear panels, each of the top panels being fitted to two of the
upright side panels and to one of the upright rear panels such that
the retaining projections of said top panel are retained
respectively in the retaining slots of the longitudinal top end
walls of the upright side panels and the retaining slots of the
longitudinal top end wall of the upright rear panel; at least two
bottom panels identical in geometric form to the top panels, the
bottom panels being identical in construction to each other, the
bottom panels having a plurality of retaining projections in three
side walls thereof corresponding in location to the retaining slots
of the longitudinal bottom end wall of the upright side panels and
the retaining slots of the longitudinal bottom end wall of the
upright rear panels, each of the bottom panels being fitted to two
of said upright side panels and to one of the upright rear panels
such that the retaining projections of the bottom panel are
respectively retained in the retaining slots of the longitudinal
bottom end walls of the upright side panels and the retaining slots
of the longitudinal bottom end wall of the upright rear panel; a
plurality of shelves slidably disposed in said grooves of said
upright side panels; and at least one door having a plurality of
pivoting lugs at one end thereof and fastened pivotally with one of
the upright side panels such that the pivoting lugs of the door are
pivoted with the pivoting lugs of the upright side panels, each of
said grooves of the upright side panels having a V-shaped cross
section, said plurality of shelves having a retaining edge in
opposite sides thereof corresponding in cross section to said
grooves, the retaining edges of said shelves being slidably
disposed respectively in said grooves, each of said plurality of
pivoting lugs of the upright side panels having an inclined guide
face, said pivoting lugs of the door having an inclined guide face,
the doors being pivoted to the upright side panels such that said
inclined guide face of the pivoting lugs of the door contacts the
inclined guide face of the pivoting lugs of the upright side panels
so as to urge the door to swivel automatically toward the upright
side panels, each of the upright rear panels having two wavy
longitudinal sides on opposite sides thereof, the retaining
projections of the top panels having two arcuate side walls
opposite to each other, the retaining slots of the longitudinal top
end wall of the upright side panels having two arcuate side walls
opposite to each other, the retaining projections of the top panels
being retained respectively in the retaining slots of the
longitudinal top end wall of the upright side panels such that the
arcuate side walls of the retaining projections are in contact with
the arcuate side walls of the retaining slots.
2. The modular case of claim 1, further comprising: at least one
drawer having a rib in two opposite outer side walls corresponding
in cross section and location to said grooves of the upright side
panels, the drawer being disposed between two of the shelves such
that the ribs of the drawer are respectively slidably received in
said grooves of the upright side panels.
Description
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an article-holding case,
and more particularly to a modular case which is used to hold
articles and is formed by fitting structural units of the
standardized size and design.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The modular case of the prior art is generally formed of a
plurality of panels and shelves, which are fastened together by
nuts and bolts. The prior art modular case may be provided with one
or more doors, which are fastened by hinges. The assembly of the
prior art modular case is done with the help of hand tools and is
therefore time-consuming. In addition, the panels are not held
together securely and are therefore apt to sway.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a
modular case which is free of the shortcomings of the prior art
modular case described above.
In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the
foregoing objective of the present invention is attained by the
modular case comprising at least two upright side panels, at least
one upright rear panel, at least one top panel, at least one bottom
panel, and at least one shelf. The upright side panels are provided
in the side wall of two longitudinal ends thereof with a plurality
of retaining slots. The upright side panels are further provided in
a rear longitudinal side wall with a plurality of retaining
projections, and in a front longitudinal side wall with a plurality
of pivoting lugs. The upright side panels are further provided in
an inner side with a plurality of retaining grooves of a V-shaped
cross section. The upright rear panel is provided in an inner side
with a plurality of retaining cavities corresponding in location to
the retaining projections of the upright side panels. The upright
rear panel is further provided in the side wall of two longitudinal
ends thereof with a plurality of retaining slots. The upright rear
panel has two corrugated longitudinal sides. The top panel and the
bottom panel are basically similar in construction to each other
and are provided in three side walls with a plurality of retaining
projections corresponding in location to the retaining slots of the
upright side panels.
The modular case of the present invention is formed by fitting
together various panels of the standardized size and design, which
include the upright side panels, the upright rear panel, the top
panel, and the bottom panel. The various panels are held together
by means of retaining projections and retaining slots or cavities.
The modular case has a hollow interior which is formed and defined
by the upright side panels, the upright rear panel, the top panel,
and the bottom panel. The hollow interior can be divided into a
plurality of compartments by shelves which are retained in the
retaining grooves of the inner sides of the upright side
panels.
The features and the advantages of the present invention will be
more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the
following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the
present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the
present invention in combination.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of the rear of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows a partial enlarged view of the side wall of the rear
longitudinal side of the upright side panels of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows a sectional schematic view of the retaining portions
of the upright side panel and the upright rear panel of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of a door and an upright side panel
of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows a partial enlarged view of the pivoting of the door of
the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 shows a partial exploded view of the top panel and the
upright side panel of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a drawer of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in FIGS. 1-8, a modular case embodied in the present
invention is formed of three upright side panels 10, two upright
rear panels 20, two top panels 30, two bottom panels 301, a
plurality of shelves 40, and a plurality of doors 50.
The upright side panels 10 are identical in construction and
dimension. Each upright side panel 10 is provided in the rear
longitudinal side wall with a plurality of retaining projections 12
which are arranged at an interval. The upright side panel 10 is
provided in the front longitudinal side wall with a plurality of
pivoting lugs 13, each being provided at the top thereof with an
inclined guide face 14. The upright side panel 10 is provided in
two ends of the side wall of the longitudinal top end with a first
retaining slot 18. Located between the two first retaining slots 18
are a plurality of second retaining slots 11 arranged at an
interval. The upright side panel 10 is provided in two ends of the
side wall of the longitudinal bottom end with a first retaining
slot 17. Located between the two first retaining slots 17 are a
plurality of second retaining slots 16 arranged at an interval.
The two upright rear panels 20 are identical in construction. Each
upright rear panel 20 is corresponding in length to the upright
side panels 10 and is provided in the two longitudinal side margins
of an inner side thereof with a plurality of retaining slots 21
corresponding in location to the retaining projections 12 of the
upright side panels 10. The upright rear panel 20 is provided in
the side wall of two longitudinal ends thereof with two first
retaining slots 24 located at two ends of the side wall, and a
plurality of second retaining slots 22 arranged at an interval
between the two first retaining slots 24. The upright rear panels
20 are fitted together with the upright side panels 10 such that
the retaining projections 12 of the upright side panels 10 are
retained in the retaining slots 21 of the upright rear panels 20,
as illustrated in FIG. 5.
The two top panels 30 are identical in construction to each other.
Each top panel 30 is provided in the side wall of a left side, a
right side, and a rear side thereof with two first retaining
projections 32 located at two end edges of the side wall, and two
second retaining projections 31 located between the two first
retaining projections 32. The top panels 30 are fitted with the
longitudinal top ends of the upright side panels 10 such that the
two first retaining projections 32 are retained in the two first
retaining slots 18 of the upright side panels 10, and that the two
second retaining projections 31 are retained in the second
retaining slots 11 of the upright side panels 10.
The two bottom panels 301 are identical in construction to each
other and to the top panels 30. Each bottom panel 301 is provided
in the side wall of a left side, a right side, and a rear side
thereof with two first retaining projections 302 located at two end
edges of the side wall, and two second retaining projections 303
located between the two first retaining projections 302. The bottom
panels 301 are fitted with the longitudinal bottom ends of the
upright side panels 10 such that the two first retaining
projections 302 are retained in the two first retaining slots 17 of
the upright side panels 10, and that the two second retaining
projections 303 are retained in the second retaining slots 16 of
the upright side panels 10.
The modular case of the present invention is provided with a hollow
interior which is formed and defined by two upright side panels 10,
one upright rear panel 20, the top panel 30, and the bottom panel
301. The hollow interior can be divided into a plurality of
compartments by means of a plurality of shelves 40, each having two
retaining edges 41 opposite to each other and having a V-shaped
cross section. The inner side of the upright side panels 10 is
provided with a plurality of grooves 15, which are arranged at
intervals and have a V-shaped cross section. The retaining edges 41
of the shelves 40 are slidably received in the grooves 15 of the
upright side panels 10. The V-shaped retaining edges 41 of the
shelves 40 and the V-shaped grooves 15 of the upright side panels
10 serve to increase contact area between the shelves 40 and the
upright side panels 10, thereby enhancing the loading capacity of
the shelves 40. The compartments may be provided with a door 50,
which is provided with two pivoting lugs 51. The door 50 is pivoted
to the upright side panels 10 by two pivots 60 which are put
through the pivoting lugs 51 of the door 50 and the pivoting lugs
13 of the upright side panels 10, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The
pivoting lugs 51 of the door 50 are provided with an inclined guide
face 52, which comes in contact with the inclined guide face 14 of
the pivoting lug 13 of the upright side panel 10. By virtue of the
guiding actions of the inclined guide faces 14 and 52, the pivoting
end of the door 50 is bound to swivel in a direction toward the
upright side panels 10, thereby causing the door 50 to close the
compartment automatically time after time.
The upright rear panels 20 are provided with two wavy longitudinal
sides 23. When two upright rear panels 20 are joined together side
by side, the two wavy longitudinal sides 23 match perfectly, as
shown in FIG. 3. The wavy longitudinal sides 23 serve to avert the
swaying of the upright rear panels 20.
As shown in FIG. 8, the first retaining projections 32 of the top
panels 30 are provided with two arcuate side walls 33. The first
retaining projection 32 is retained in the first retaining slot 18
of the upright side panel 10 such that the arcuate side walls 33 of
the first retaining projection 32 come in contact with two arcuate
side walls 19 of the first retaining slot 18 of the upright side
panel 10. The engagement of the arcuate side walls can hold more
securely the first retaining projection 32 and the first retaining
slot 18 together as compared with an engagement of the straight
side walls.
As shown in FIG. 9, the preferred embodiment of the present
invention further comprises at least one drawer 70, which is
provided in two outer side walls with a rib 71 having a V-shaped
cross section and corresponding to the V-shaped grooves 15 of the
upright side panels 10. The drawer 70 is disposed between the two
shelves 40 such that the ribs 71 are slidably received in the
grooves 15 of the upright side panels 10.
The embodiment of the present invention described above is to be
regarded in all respects as being illustrative and nonrestrictive.
Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other
specific forms without deviating from the spirit thereof. The
present invention is therefore to be limited only by the scopes of
the following claims.
* * * * *